Brentsville Edges Broad Run in 5-4 Win

By Preston Williams

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Earlier this week, Brentsville moved extra bleachers to its baseball field to better accommodate its growing, and stoked, fan base.

The Tigers might want to add a few gurneys, too, because their fans might not be able to take too many more of these lump-in-throat finishes.

Down four runs and having mustered only two hits all game, Brentsville rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning last night to squeeze out a 5-4 win over Broad Run in the Virginia AA Region II championship.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward

Brenstville's baseball team swarms home plate as No. 17 Brian McBride runs in with the winning home run. Broad Run catcher No. 5 Tommy Meier walks away.

Brentsville (22-2), which edged Potomac Falls in eight innings Wednesday, will host Region I runner-up Poquoson at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a state quarterfinal. Broad Run (21-4) will play at Region I champion Powhatan at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

"I don't think we're ever out of it," said Brentsville junior first baseman Hayden Gilmer, who like his teammates sorely wanted one more home game.

Broad Run senior right-hander Trey Brocke set down the first 11 batters of the game -- 10 on ground balls -- and had faced only one batter over the minimum going into the seventh.

Brentsville senior Chase Garrison led off with a single to center, and senior Scott Betterly reached when his line drive bounced off the top of a fielder's glove. Gilmer singled to load the bases.

Sophomore Justin Weaver then walked on four pitches to force in the first run, and senior Justin Frazier, who had the winning hit against Potomac Falls, battled back after an 0-2 count to draw a full-count walk to make it 4-2. At that point, sophomore right-hander Shane Vlasic took the mound, and, yes, as a matter of fact, he was in a pickle, with the bases still loaded.

The third run scored when the Spartans tried to steal an out with a pickoff attempt that sailed over the third baseman, allowing Weaver to scamper home. James Kerns then singled, and Brentsville Coach Brian Knight sent Brian McBride, who scored easily with the winning run.

"These guys are great in the dugout, because they will talk to each other," Knight said in reference to the Tigers sharing insights into opposing pitchers. "By the time they get up there a second and third time, they've got him timed and know his pitches."

Tagged: baseball, Broad Run High School

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